carpé diem

2012-02-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Some pics showing my new garden being dug up, and slightly rebuild. Rest will follow in sping/summer.

2012-02-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

Last summer when I was just living in Baarn, there was this parade of all the Kings & Queens of The Netherlands. Made some great pics.

2011-07-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Another great concert in the Arena/Amsterdam by Take That

(with Robbie Williams). Was fantastic.

2011-07-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Had a great time this summer in watching Bon Jovi at Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park

Weather was great/sunny (after days of heavy rain), and music fantastic.

2011-07-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

In spring 2011 Zutphen had to deal with a lot of water/floods!

This was just opposite my house.

2011-07-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

Very heavy winter in Zutphen 2010/2011, and of course beautiful views

2011-07-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Some beautiful pictures of the winter moon in Zutphen one night (2011)

2010-11-18T06:35:00.001-08:00

Have a look at this fantastic video clip on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN_YvaW505c&feature=related

2010-11-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

One of our most famous authors, Eckhart Tolle, came to Holland this week. We organised this event for him, which was visited by around 2000 peoples. Was a lot of fun to organise.

2010-09-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

The 2010 chocolate festival in Zutphen. So much to see, smell & taste!

2010-09-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

The beautiful Wisley gardens. Following the Surrey Sculpture Society Trail 2010.

Also visited the lovely garden market there.

2010-09-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Cycling the North Sea Route, along the Dutch coast. Beautiful towns, heavy bikes, and amazing views.

2010-04-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

2010-04-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

Have just been to Italy. Was absolutely fantastic. Great food, astonishing history, and beautiful art. Just some nice pics.

2010-01-23T01:55:00.001-08:00

2010-01-23T01:49:00.000-08:00

Some more very beautiful, typically wintery views, this time from Zutphen

2010-01-23T01:31:00.000-08:00

This was The Hague in December 2009! Beautiful views.

2009-12-16T01:35:00.000-08:00

Beautiful mushrooms from the Zutphen forest, one autumn day.

2009-12-16T01:28:00.000-08:00

Some nice pics from Zutphen.

2009-09-18T01:50:00.000-07:00

2009-09-14T08:02:00.001-07:00

More Hyde Park - Last Night of the Proms

2009-09-14T05:31:00.000-07:00

Have just come back from the UK, and a very enjoyable day in Hyde Park. I was there with a colleague of mine enjoying the Last Night of the Proms. Amazing. Very good atmosphere and music of course. Lots of people picknicking, dancing, and waving flags (as you can see)

2009-08-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

This was a night enjoying a drink with friends (and bear).

Drink was called 43. Never had it before, very nice though.

Glasses a bit too small for the ice-cubes!

2009-07-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

I came back from my holiday, and discovered this fantastic

blackbird nest. I tried to get as close to them as possible, and

this is the result.

2009-07-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

This was a brilliant concert in Hyde Park, with Neil Young,

and five other supporting acts. Weather was beautiful,

accept for one hour of pouring rain!

2009-07-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

During one walk we passed these wonderful Pitcherplants.
The biggest I've ever seen.

2009-07-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

Some holiday pics from the beautiful island, Karpathos, Greece

Went with a group on a walking trip. Most days with walks of up to 7 hours.

2009-06-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

This is actually last year (2008). Went on an archaeological dig (roman) in Nijmegen. Found some lovely, and interesting stuff. The third picture (I know it is tiny) was actually Roman wall colouring! Wat great fun to do.

2009-06-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a long time, I thought I'd put a very good book on my blog. The story is told by Mariella, a young women who has grown up in London, without actually seeing any of London. She has lead a very sheltered life, that is until her cousin Rosa descends from the North and lives with Mariella and her family. Mariella's fiancee is a doctor and working in the Crimea. Rosa leaves London to nurse in the Crimea, her letters detailing the horror and expressing how she cant seem to do enough to help the soldiers. Suddenly the letters from Rosa stop and no more is heard from her, worried about her cousin and her fiancee, Mariella leaves London to search for them. It is an engrossing story of love, intrique, and war. I can definately recommend this one. I was hooked from start to finish, and once finished, could hardly put it down.

2009-06-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

A picture of the newest edition to my household!

2008-02-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

And some more.... 2007

Beautiful old town!

2008-02-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Some nice pics of Zutphen (Finally) - 2007 Summer

2007-09-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

These three pictures have been taken in Zutphen, from my living room!

2007-09-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Just some nice little shots from Amsterdam. Summer 2007.

2006-10-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

BERLIN IN LIGHTS: The Diaries of Count Harry Kessler
Translated & Edited by Charles Kessler

Introduction by Ian Buruma

“His diaries, which begin with the Armistice of 1918 and end with his death in 1937, form a lens through which the turbulent Weimar years come vibrantly to life” – Library Journal

It has taken me some time to finish this book, as it has got a vast amount of information to take in. Berlin in Lights brings together a fascinating collection of Count Harry Kessler’s diaries, from 1918 to 1937. Kessler was born in France . He had a German father and an Irish mother. His mother caught the eye of Kaiser Wilhelm I, and it is believed that she later became his mistress. In his diaries he describes the changing mood of Germany and Europe between the First and the Second World Wars. Harry Kessler was a diplomat and a publisher, who had many contacts in the world of art, politics and society. He had contact with some extraordinary people, such as Einstein, Josephine Baker, Bertolt Brecht, Virginia Woolf, Jean Cocteau and André Gide. In his diaries he describes the collapse of the Weimar republic, and the arrival of the Nazis. Kessler’s diaries also include descriptions on the artistic and cultural movements that flourished at that moment in time. I thought the book was marvellous, and his life extraordinary. It is definately a good read for anyone who has an interest in the social and cultural history of Europe in the period inbetween the Two World Wars. I couldn't put it down.

2006-10-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

More Battle of Hastings

2006-10-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend we've been to the Hastings to see the 940th Anniversary of the Battle between King Harold of England versus William of Normandy. The landscape where the battle took place, has ofcourse changed, but with this reconstruction of the battle, you can put yourself in the place of the men and women who came to fight here in 1066. The battle was one of the longest and bloodiest fought in Medieval times. There was lots to see....the arrival of King Harold, a Norman banquet, an archaery display, etc....and ofcourse the battle itself.

2006-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Stroud in the winter

2006-08-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

TURKEY 2005

Went to the Turqoist Coast in May 2005 for 8 days with Exodus. Great trip and fantastic group of people.

2006-08-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is just a test to see if it all works.